BREAKING: Make It Happen HQ in Broome has just won the prestigious Economic Development award at the 2025 7NEWS WA Community Achievement Awards, held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth on October 25, 2025. This award recognizes organizations that create job opportunities and enhance career prospects in regional communities.
This victory is particularly significant as Make It Happen HQ, led by First Nations women, empowers local Aboriginal entrepreneurs through innovative grants and development programs. Head of Business Strategy, Adele Peek, expressed that the award is “incredibly meaningful,” stating, “Our mission has always been about empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs across regional and remote Australia.”
Make It Happen HQ is not just a business hub; it’s a cultural movement. With flagship programs like EQUALIZER and Peek Performance, the organization is dedicated to fostering sustainable pathways for Indigenous-led businesses in various fields such as fashion, digital design, food services, and cultural tourism. “We’re creating spaces where First Nations people can lead with culture, confidence, and community at the center,” Peek added.
Since its inception, Make It Happen HQ has supported over 50 First Nations participants in launching more than 20 businesses, generating over 60 new income streams and securing more than $250,000 in funding. “We’re proud of what we’re building and even prouder of the community we’re building it with,” Peek said.
Looking ahead, Make It Happen HQ is gearing up for its next major initiative, Reclaim the Narrative. This event aims to challenge perceptions and highlight the economic power of First Nations businesses. Peek highlighted the impressive statistics: “First Nations Australians make up just 3.8% of the population, yet generate over $16 billion in GDP, employ 116,000 people, and pay $4 billion in wages.”
“This is not an emerging market; it’s an undervalued one. And we’re here to change that,” she concluded. The winners of the 2025 7NEWS WA Community Achievement Awards will receive 20 online live group coaching sessions valued at $990, a trophy, and airtime on a TV ad across regional WA on the Seven Network.
As Make It Happen HQ continues to make waves in the economic landscape, the spotlight on First Nations entrepreneurship grows ever brighter. Stay tuned for more updates on their initiatives and the impact they are making across Australia.
